Planning Advisor - 10563

We are looking for a highly motivated, confident and enthusiastic person to join a team that engages with a range of customers to promote sustainable growth and secure environmental outcomes through land-use and marine planning systems.
You will be one of the EA’s main points of contact with a designated group of local planning authorities, developers and other bodies mainly engaged in:
i) Pre application and strategic advice, including recovery of costs for this work, liaising with customers, issuing quotes and reports;
ii) Planning application advice;
iii) Local Development Plan advice - evidence, policy and site allocations.
You will proactively engage with internal planning consultees, manage and coordinate our formal responses within negotiated timescales and ensure we provide appropriate quality outcomes across the full range of environmental matters in our remit including flood risk, groundwater and contaminated land, fisheries and biodiversity and waste.

The successful candidate will need the ability to develop strong relationships, excellent communications and customer service skills, complemented by awareness of the Government’s growth agenda, relevant planning systems, how the development industry in general operates as well as an understanding of Environment Agency objectives.
You will need to meet strict deadlines and targets under challenging work pressures.

Sustainable Places manages the Agency's input into development management and planning policy, working with local planning authorities and developers. Cumbria and Lancashire is a diverse area with NSIPs, and major applications creating exciting opportunities and challenging workloads. You’ll join a positive, hardworking team that takes pride in delivering results. We’re continually developing to become more strategic, evidence led, business focussed and customer orientated.

You will be qualified to at least degree standard (or equivalent) in an environmental subject. Experience in and/or in depth knowledge of Town and Country Planning is essential. Expected skills and experience include:
Political and commercial awareness of the growth agenda and development industry
Strong team ethic and ability to work independently.
Positive enthusiastic attitude with drive to seek innovative ways of working.
Excellent time management and organisational skills; the ability to prioritise effectively.
Strong customer service, communication and relationship building skills – both written and verbal.
Confident negotiation and influencing skills.
Excellent problem solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions based on competing or complex factors
Good understanding of our broad business and environmental activities.
Importantly you will have an energy and willingness to learn, a real desire to achieve the best environmental outcomes and a flexible, creative approach to move with our changing ways of working.

Closing Date: 25th April 2019 at 23:55

Please contact Dolores Owen with any questions on 07768 278345 or Dolores.owen@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets.
Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Effectively co-ordinates the Environment Agency’s response to planning consultations to protect & enhance the environment